The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-08
REVIEWING CHURCH WORK.
Beginning of the Eighteenth Annual
Session of the Lexington Conference.
Gratifying Reports from the Churches in In
diana, Illinois, Ohio and Kentucky-Dis-
tinguished Colored Preachers

The eighteenth aInua, session Of the Lexing
ton Conference began yesterday morning and
will continue until the end of the week. On
Sunday next the pulpits of nearly all the Meth
odist churches of the city, and perhaps those of
some other denominations, will be filled from
the membership of this conference. Bishop
Mallalieu presides over the conference, and yes
terday the exercises were opened with prayer by
the venerable DR. Aaron Wood and the reading,
by Rev. Joseph Courtney. of the third chapter
OF the epstle to the Ephesians. The roll-call
showed that no death had occurred among the
members since the last conference. held at
Bowling Green, KY. in April 1886. Rev. Fl. w.
Tate was elected secretary, and Revs. G. A. Sis
sci, j. L. Perrin and N. A. Elicit assistants.
sv. L. M. Hagood was chosen statistical secre-
tary, with Revs. w. G. Eckols, G. W. Zeigler
and John F. Moreland, assistants The stand
ing committees were then appointed as follows:
Missions, the presiding elders of the conference;
auditing committee, w. H. Brown, G. W.
Thomas. NJ. S. johnson. J. E. Christopher and
NJ. L. Hagood. A number of visiting ministers
were introduced. among the number Aaron
Wood, S. F. Anderson, W. B. Collins, ]. E. Gill
bert, of Indianapolis Conference; W. H. Wyd-
Southeast Indiana Conference; J. G. Campbell,
E. R. johnson, Wesley Pretyman, Northwest
ern Indiana Conference; Dr. R. S. Rush, Gin
cinnati Conference; Leroy Reed, Christian
church: James Thomas, Baptist church: j. w.
Gazaway, Bethel A. NJ. E. church. Bishop Bow
man was present and made few remarks, ex-
pressing his qualification with the meeting.
In the afternoon the call of districts was
taken up Elder W. L. Muir of Louisville, KY,
presiding. Some of the circuits, particularly
some of those in Kentucky. as the secretary
read them. caused some of the members from
other States to laugh by reason of the strange
conjunction of names. Among these oddities in
nomenclature was Jericho and Sulphur" An
other charge. named "Pinkstaf," was misread
''pigstaff," which made a number of the breth-
rem smile very audibly.
The venerable Dr. Aaron Wood, now nearly
eiehty-five years DID, who ordained in 1924
and has been preaching in Indiana ever SINCE
was introduced, and spoke briefly of Methoolsm
in Indiana, and what he was doing in the way of
collecting material for a history of the Metho-
dist Church DR.. Wood still has voice of con-
siderable power. He is an interesting talker,
and his remarks were listened to with the closest
attention.
There are about lis members in attendance
and among them a number Of men of note
as pulpit orators. Rev. E. w. S. Hammond,
of Covington, KY, is among the great men of
this conference. In 1880, at Cincinnati, he de-
livered address which recognized
vigorous and scholarly effort. 1t at thar
conference that he received large vote for bish-
op. He was at one time presiding elder Of
this district
One of the most eloquent of preachers is Rev.
Marshall W. Taylor, editor of the Southwestern
Christian Advocate. at New Orleans. He was
for some time resident of this city. DR.. Taylor
spoke last year at the meeting of the Southeast
ern Indiana Conference, and many were of the
opinion that among the several brilliant pulpit
orators who spoke at that conference there was
none superior to this negro divine.
Another noted preacher is Rev. Joseph Court
lives at Covington KY, and is self-made man,
the beginning of his education being gradua-
ton in the Chautauqua course.
Rev. Charles Jones, presiding elder of the In
diana district who lives in this city, is also
man of marked success in the pulpit
Among the older men in attendance are Rev
James Sims. of Jeffersonvlle; Rev. Yale Ross. of
Bowling Green. KY, and Revs. Scott Ward and
conference. and of these several are considered
good theologians and excellent pulpit takers.
Among these are Rev. Louis NJ. Haeood pas
tor OF Union Chapel. Cincinnati, man twenty
eight or thirty years old. graduate of the Gen.
trail Tennessee College; Rev. Fl. W. Tate, of
Steubenvie, O., graduate of Oberln College:
Rev. George Sissel, of Paris, KY, a very able
preacher; Rev. j. F. Moreland. of Lexington,
KY, twenty mine years old, graduate of the
Central Tennessee College. and who has been in
the ministry about six years; Rev. Daniel w.
Shaw, Of Oberlin. o.. thirty years old, born in
Louisiana, graduated from the Baldwin Univer-
sity. at Berea, O.. III 1883, and then spent three
years in Boston at the University School of
Theology.
Rev. Dr. r. S. Rust, of Cincinnati. of the
Freedmens Aid Society, spoke last night on the
froodrnan and ha adj had ms
together with their present needs and the out
look for the future. He followed by short
addresses by Revs. Hagood, Hammonds and Tay-
lor. On Saturday afternoon Rev. DR.. Stowe of
the Methodist Book Concern, Cincinnati. will de-
liver an address.
Bishop Mallaeu will preach at Simpson
Chapel on Sunday morning, the seat of the con-
ference, but he will be present a. Central-avenue
Church in the afternoon, at 2:15 o'clock, and
make an address.